JOIN USTattoos inevitably fetch one the eyeballs, but the cultural status of tattoos is changing. No longer does one face remarks of being anti-social. General perception may be that flaunting large tattoos is ‘more acceptable’ among musicians, artists, celebrities, but trend does not suggest so as a growing number of professionals from diverse backgrounds are showing interest in this art form.
Vikas Malani, tattoo artist at Body Canvas studio, Vasant Kunj says, “My customers are mostly bankers, doctors and corporate professionals. By the norm it should be weird, but even the bosses of highly reputed private firms have come to me for large tattoos.”
He says that tattoo may give one a punk-like look. But tattoo is of many forms and a person chooses the tattoo through which they can identify themselves.
“It can be a style statement or something as deep as the cultural significance. To someone it may be his interest in music, sports and adventure and to someone it may mean freedom and relationship, souvenirs, challenges, achievements,” says Malani.
Niyati Shah, 35, has eight tattoos on her body. Her first was when she was 18. The most prominent tattoo is a ‘full sleeve’ lord Shiva- Ganesha artwork of black intricate arabesque tendrils over her right hand. With this tattoo and one on her neck that can hardly be hidden under any dress material, Shah holds regular meetings with elite, sophisticated clients, runs a roaring online digital business line, Shotformats and has recently won the Entrepreneur Asia Award 2015.
“I have hardly been uncomfortable during any of my meetings. Sometimes people ask me, how did I feel, where could they get it from. Sometimes, they just want to click
a photograph with me,” she says, laughing.
“All my tattoos are about something I believe in. I am a very religious person and so I get gods’ images inked,” she adds. Dr Manish Mayur, 32, of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai has a 10- inch Shiva tattoo stretching from his arms to his back. He is the head of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “People say I don’t look like a doctor. I don’t know what a doctor is supposed to look like. Is he supposed to have a protruding tummy, large spectacles and is always serious?” Dr Mayur questions. According to Dr Mayur, these are clichés and he got a tattoo after much thinking about what will people in his stream think of him. “I had been thinking about it since I was a teenager. But I was always wary about the profession,” he tells Metrolife.
In the intensive care unit, he has to constantly take care of the most critical patients and he says that the tattoo has rather been a boon. “People smile when they see it, because the doctor’s coat can’t hide all of it. They talk to me more freely, I feel. It makes an immediate connect, especially with children who come in, they are always intrigued when they see it,” says Dr Mayur.
Rachel Vaz, 25, a school teacher, has feathers on her shoulder, angel on her leg and her husband’s name on her wrist. She recently got a job in Dubai in a private school. Here, she dealt with children of classes seventh to ninth everyday. “My students could see all my tattoos easily and I have only seen positive reactions. Also they are more comfortable with me at times while sharing their problems. Maybe because I seem more ‘approachable’. Other teachers have also shown interest and wanted to get tattoos
after seeing mine. Unlike some years ago when people would gawk at tattoos and consider it as ‘callous people’s habit’, tattoos have become much more acceptable,” says Vaz. “Tattooing is a way to appreciate art and culture and majorly a way of expressing life,” she adds.